In Ahmedabad, India, Australia captain Pat Cummins declared that his team’s World Cup final victory over India on Sunday was the crowning achievement of a remarkable 2023 season. Australia secured their record-extending sixth title in the one-day cricket format, having retained the Ashes against traditional rivals England and winning the World Test Championship Final against India, prior to their six-wicket victory over India in the World Cup final.
Cummins expressed the significance of the win, stating “That’s huge, I think that’s the pinnacle of international cricket, winning a one-day World Cup. Especially over here in India, in front of a crowd like this.” He also emphasized the importance of such moments in a player’s career, saying “It’s been a big year for everyone… Ashes, World Test Championship and top it off with this is just huge and these are the moments that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”
Cummins highlighted the rarity of the opportunity to compete in a World Cup, stating “You only get a shot at it every four years. Even if you have a 10-year career, you might only get two chances at it. And yeah, it’s just the whole cricket world stops with this World Cup. So it doesn’t get any better.” He emphasized the importance of this victory in the context of the global cricket scene.
The Australian skipper’s leadership was praised by his teammate Mitchell Starc, who commended Cummins’ decision-making throughout the tournament. Starc expressed his admiration for Cummins and the coaching staff, describing the past eight weeks as “an incredible winter.” The success and enjoyment of the World Cup victory were highlighted, with Starc emphasizing the team’s triumph despite facing challenges.
Cummins, reflecting on the World Cup victory, revealed that the experience had reignited his passion for 50-over cricket, emphasizing the unique significance of every game in a tournament like the World Cup. Addressing questions about the future of the 50-over format, he expressed optimism about its longevity, citing the rich history and memorable stories associated with the World Cup.
The report from Ahmedabad was by Shrivathsa Sridhar, with editing by Toby Davis.
